Independent MP Helen Haines is in a critical condition after being struck by a four-wheel drive vehicle outside her electorate office in Wangaratta, north-east Victoria, on Monday afternoon.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said it was an intentional attack that is being investigated by several agencies, including counter-terrorism teams. One man was arrested at the scene and is in police custody.
Here’s what we know so far.
Who is Helen Haines?
Helen Haines, 65, is the independent federal representative for Indi, a north-east Victorian electorate that stretches up to Wodonga near the NSW border.
Before entering parliament, Haines had a decades-long career in healthcare. She worked as a nurse, midwife and health researcher, publishing dozens of academic articles. She grew up on a dairy farm in Eurack, in southwestern Victoria, and has been married to her husband, Phil Haines, since 1986. The couple have raised three children and live on a beef farm outside Wangaratta.
Haines’ political career began when she was elected as an independent in the 2019 election. Her predecessor in the seat, Cathy McGowan, in many ways pioneered the community independent movement in 2013, when she won Indi from the Coalition with the backing of grassroots campaigners. It had been safely held by conservative parties for the previous 80 years.
Haines seized on the same momentum and was endorsed by McGowan to run as the local MP. She was the first independent to succeed another independent in federal parliament, and has held Indi on an 8 per cent margin in the two elections since.
“When people can see another way, it’s empowering,” Haines told Good Weekend in 2023. “The fact that the nation has chosen a parliament that has the biggest crossbench in history since federation demonstrates the need for a diversity of views and greater collaboration.”
Haines’ recent election campaigns have been backed by the Climate 200 fundraising vehicle, although she keeps a distinct profile from the “teal independents” who have won city seats with a similar community campaigning model.
Haines has advocated for climate change action and regional services, particularly healthcare. She has also been a strong advocate for integrity and transparency in politics, and was instrumental in campaigning for a national anti-corruption body.
Haines is a widely respected member of parliament. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described her as an incredibly hardworking MP on Monday night.
“She is fiercely intelligent, but most importantly, she’s just a thoroughly decent human being, full of integrity, respected right across the parliament, and from everyone who comes into contact with her,” he said.
What happened at her Wangaratta office?
Haines was returning to her electorate office in Wangaratta after attending a sod-turning event in the nearby town of Mansfield on Monday afternoon, when she was struck by a white Toyota Landcruiser at about 3.35pm.
Witnesses told Nine and the ABC they saw Haines pinned between two vehicles just outside her office as she was near her own car.
Police said that witnesses arrested the driver of the Landcruiser at the scene. A knife was also seized from inside the car.
What is her condition?
Haines was in a critical condition on Monday night.
Victoria Police Acting Superintendent Ashley Mason confirmed Haines suffered critical injuries. Haines was taken to Northeast Health Wangaratta by ambulance and was airlifted to The Alfred hospital in Melbourne for further medical treatment on Monday night.
What have the authorities said?
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke held a press conference in Sydney on Monday night.
Albanese said it appeared to be a deliberate attack, not an accident. He said the Australian Federal Police, Victorian Police and domestic spy agency ASIO were working on the case, and the joint counter-terrorism team had been activated.
Mason, from Victoria Police, said investigators from the major collision investigation unit were on their way to Wangaratta on Monday night, and would thoroughly process the crime scene. Victoria’s crime and counter-terrorism command were also assisting investigators.
Albanese and Burke said it was too soon to speculate about the motive behind the attack. “We’re still very early in the investigation, but importantly, someone is in custody,” Burke said.
Who is the suspected attacker?
Police said they have arrested a 43-year-old local man from Tarrawingee, a town of about 400 people that lies 12 kilometres east of Wangaratta. Police seized a knife from his car.
The man was being held in custody at the Wangaratta Police Station on Monday night as investigators began examining his history in search for a motive. He will be interviewed by police.
Victoria Police said there was no indication at this stage that the man and Haines were known to each other, but that will be a subject of the investigation. Police said they were treating it as an isolated incident, and there was no ongoing threat to another person or the broader community.
“We’ve got quite an extensive crime scene,” Mason said. “We have investigators present and they’ll continue to work through and try and collect all available evidence to ascertain exactly what has occurred and how it has occurred.”
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